You drink enough full-strength (oolong) tea to influence EE and fat oxidation, and

You follow the proper diet, one that is not offsetting the slight energy imbalance.

Study 2
Komatsu and his friends examined the effects of oolong tea and green tea consumption on fasting EE2. After a 2-hour measuring period, they found resting EE was similar in the two groups before consumption of the different beverages and remained low after water (+3 kcal) and green tea (+12 kcal) consumption but increased significantly after oolong tea consumption (+27 kcal).

Because oolong tea had less caffeine and EGCG than did green tea, the rise in EE must be due to the presence in oolong tea of more polymerized polyphenols than are found in green tea. However, since measuring only took place during two hours, we cannot say this finding is always valid.

Study 3
A third study confirms the first one 3. They examined the effects of green tea, in capsules, on EE and found green tea extract stimulates EE and fat oxidation (respectively 2.8% and 3.5% more than caffeine and placebo) and can therefore influence body weight and body composition.

Study 4
Dulloo and others confirmed the conclusions of the third study since they found 4:

As these were all very short studies, we cannot say that either oolong tea or green tea is a real Chinese diet tea, leading to weight loss over a longer period of time.

They do seem to be of help though in weight-loss programs or in weight maintenance; not only thanks to the caffeine content but merely due to EGCG and other polyphenols.

Chinese diet tea: the bad…..

The second type of Chinese diet tea is made of laxative herbs, such as senna, rhubarb, aloe, senna, rhubarb root, buckthorn, castor oil, and cascara. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as generally safe since these herbs are known to be good against constipation and promoting bowel movements.

They can, however,

be counterproductive when you’re trying to lose weight.

WHY??? That’s the UGLY part….

Chinese diet tea: the ugly…truth

Normally these herbs are used only occasionally.

When taken in excess (longer and in higher doses than recommended) these herbs, then often labeled as Chinese diet tea, may lead to (chronic) diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach bleeding/cramps, fainting, dehydration and (chronic) constipation.

Not only you then may have to deal with one of these side effects of taking the laxative variant of Chinese diet tea,

IT ALSO DOESN’T HELP ACHIEVING YOUR MAIN GOAL…..

…TO LOSE WEIGHT!

Here’s why:

No weight loss at all: Laxatives work on the lower end of the bowel (the colon) instead of on the small intestine where calories are burned.

Weight loss from dehydration: Laxatives may cause diarrhea or vomiting which sometimes leads to dehydration.

Weight loss from muscles: Diarrhea block the body’s ability to absorb nutrients because food move too quick through the body. The body still needs nutrients so in order to get it, it starts to burn muscles, a high source of protein.

Again, no weight loss: Less muscles lead to a lower metabolic rate and that means the body burns less calories (higher rates lead to burning calories even at rest).

1 Full-strength: 3g tea leaves in 300ml water, containing 48.7 mg EGCG and 53.7 mg caffeine per serving; Control beverages: half-strength oolong tea, water and caffeinated water; These beverages were consumed five times a day for three days as part of a controlled diet; Only normal weight males participated in the study.

4Two green tea extract capsules, where each capsule contained 375 mg catechins, including 270 mg EGCG; Capsules were taken twice daily for 12 weeks as part of a regular, self-selected diet; There was no control group.